The Muse

A muse is a mystical creature, but that does not mean it is not real. Is it the daughter of a god? I think not, but perhaps it is a metaphor for humanity’s latent power of creation. On the path the muse will take you, there be dragons. They must be slain however, in order to reach the gold.

The Muse

A number of years back I saw a film by Albert Brooks, the Muse. While I thought it charming, and imbued with some poignant ideas, I did not fully realize what Mr. Brooks was saying with it. Now years later, after the Muse has come into my life, I could walk right up to him, look him in the eye and say,” I know exactly what you mean.” Those of us who create know her and her sisters, in one form or another. Occasionally she will smile on us, give us a wink, and move on to some other poor fool. It is when we garner her full attention, that we are in trouble. In the film, she would require her would be paramours, to bring her elaborate gifts, and be on call to her every whim, in order to keep her attentions. Believe me when I say, this is not far from the mark. Of course in the film, it is set in Hollywood the home of glamour, so the gifts were displayed as material in nature. Were that it was so simple, to throw her some expensive bauble and leave it at that. This is not enough for her, she will ask you to give her your all, she will expect from you, more than you even thought you could give.

Outside the Myth

I will not go into the classical definition of the Muse, most of us know it, and for the rest it is only a mouse click away. What I will tell you is that the myth is only a watered down metaphor for a force of creation that rivals anything in nature. To stand in the presence of the Muse, is exhilarating , more so with the knowledge that at any moment, your entire being will be swept away. You may be thinking, take me away Muse, take me away, but be careful what you wish for, you just might get it. All of us are creators, it is the inherent power of our origin within us, as natural to us as breathing. The only difference among us, is what level of awareness we have of this power. The Muse will help you to awaken to it, but there will be a price. We think when we consciously create, that we are bringing forth something from nothing, and all that is required of us is the will to pick up the pen, or the brush, or whatever medium we prefer in which to express ourselves. That is not entirely true, the price paid is a piece of ourselves imbued within our creation. The Muse requires that that part we give be genuine, it must come from who we really are.

The Price

Many of us believe ourselves to be genuine, but unfortunately the nature of humanity is such, that it is extremely difficult to do so. We have our true self, buried under layers of egocentric ideas, placed there by our self and others. Societal norms we strive to live up to, and outdated thought patterns of the person we think we are. If it were possible to see all the layers we have upon our spirit, we would look like the Stay Puff, marshmallow man. The all too brief instances of inspiration, are holes in this blanket of false or outdated thoughts. The Muse will strip it from you, leaving you cold and naked, in the full light of day.

Creation and Destruction

Much like the Hindu goddess Kali, the Muse is a force, both of creation and destruction. The thoughts and ideas covering your true self must be destroyed, in order for you to create something genuine. Not only in your art, but in your life. In my case, it was a complete and total period of deconstruction. Honestly I do not know how I made it through, and perhaps I am not all the way through yet. Let me tell you it was not a comfortable experience, but as the holes in my blanket of outdated thought widened, I began to see more clearly, the necessity to widen them further. Now, by and large, I stand naked before her. And what was at first cold and lonely, has now become the freedom of a naked spirit. I am free to take her hand without doubt, and walk in the fields of wonder through which she leads. I love her, and by doing so, I have learned to love myself, my true self, so that everything I express is genuine.

Alas my dear, not having a star somehow makes it less, the fun I had writing it, a waste of time;) Seriously Creation and Destruction go hand in hand, it does not make sense to place value judgements, when both have equal value. Thanks for the comment.